Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser includes a base with a stabilizing rim, a hub, and spokes attached to the rim. The spokes extend inwardly to the hub supporting it with respect to the rim. A cannula is supported by the hub.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to blood and other dispensers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various dispensers have been designed to transfer blood and other liquids from a stoppered test tube to a slide. Most dispensers have some kind of a base and a cannula extending outwardly therefrom. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,522 and 5,344,666, both incorporated herein by this reference, disclose bases with a plurality of stabilizing legs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,583, also incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a different design with a skirt about the cannula which is supported by a solid disk. See also the Helena Laboratory Corp's. “H-Pette” products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Due to alleged patent coverage of existing dispensers, an alternative source for dispensers is desirable. In the invention, a dispenser is provided with a single stabilizing rim which is easier to engage in order to push the cannula into the stopper.

The invention features, in one aspect, a dispenser comprising a base including a stabilizing rim, a hub, spokes attached to the rim and extending inwardly to the hub supporting it with respect to the rim, and a cannula supported by the hub.

In some embodiments, the rim is ring shaped, each spoke extends upwardly and then inwardly to a side wall of the hub, the hub is ring shaped, the cannula is supported in the hub, and the hub includes a lower inwardly tapered dispensing tip in communication with the cannula. The cannula can be all plastic or may be in two sections, one plastic and one metal.

In one example, the dispensing tip is rounded, and is spaced from the terminal edge of the rim. Typically, the base, rim, spokes, hub, and cannula are integral and made of plastic. There may be three spaced spokes, the cannula may be tapered, the cannula may have a tapered channel therein, and the cannula may have a sharpened distal end.

A molded plastic, unitary dispenser in accordance with an example of the invention typically includes a base with a stabilizing ring shaped rim, a ring shaped hub inside the rim and including a lower dispensing tip, spokes attached to the rim and extending inwardly to the hub, and a cannula supported by the hub.

In one version, a dispenser comprises a base including a stabilizing rim, a hub, means for supporting the hub with respect to the rim, and a cannula supported by the hub. In one preferred embodiment, the means for supporting the hub include spokes attached to the rim and extending inwardly to the hub.

The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic three dimensional front view showing an example of a dispenser in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional front view of the dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the dispenser of FIGS. 1-3 being used in connected with a stoppered test tube; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic three dimensional front view of another example of a dispenser in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer.

FIGS. 1-3 depict an example of a dispenser 10 including base 12 with stabilizing rim 14 typically ring shaped as shown. Ring shaped hub 16 is supported with respect to rim 14 by means for supporting such as equally spaced spokes 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c. In this example, the spokes rise upwardly from the top surface 20 of rim 14 and extend inwardly to side wall 24 of hub 16 as shown supporting hub 16 within and slightly above rim 14. Cannula 22 is supported in hub 16 and is preferably tapered as shown in FIG. 3 but with a uniform wall thickness forming tapered channel 26 therein. The distal end of cannula 22 is sharpened as shown at 28 in FIGS. 1-2. This design results in a cannula which is easier to insert into a stopper and which produces a drop of liquid at dispensing tip 30.

Hub 16 preferably includes lower, inwardly tapered, rounded dispensing tip 30 spaced 0.058 inches above terminal edge surface 34 of rim 14. Preferably, all these components are integral and the dispenser 10 is injected molded from clear plastic material such as acrylic (e.g., Acrylite M30, Evonik Industries). Rim 14 may be 0.490 inches in diameter and cannula 22 may be 0.853 inches tall. The outer diameter of cannula 22 may be 0.057 inches at the sharpened tip and 0.085 inches at the intersection with base 12. Clear plastic is used so medical personnel can see when a blood drop is present in the device.

The depending feet of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,666 and 5,697,522 are avoided since they may irritate the user's thumb when the cannula is pushed into a stoppered vial. In contrast, broad rim 14 in the example shown is comfortable against the thumb as the cannula is driven into stopper 53 in test tube 50 as shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, hollow circular rim 14 stabilizes these components when placed on a table, slide, diagnostic card, or the like. And, rim 14 allows liquid, e.g., blood, to be dispensed without smearing.

In FIG. 5, cannula portion 23 is a metal tube press or friction fit into plastic canulla portion 22′. Cannula portion 23 may be 0.5″ long and have an interior diameter of 0.020 inches. Larger interior diameters may be desirable, e.g., 0.030 inches. The result, in any embodiment, typically features an ergonomic, robust design.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments.

In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser comprising: a base including a stabilizing rim; a hub; spokes attached to the rim and extending inwardly to the hub supporting it with respect to the rim; and a cannula supported by the hub.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the rim is ring shaped.
 3. The dispenser of claim 1 in which each spoke extends upwardly and then inwardly to a side wall of the hub.
 4. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the hub is ring shaped.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the cannula is supported in the hub.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the hub includes a lower inwardly tapered dispensing tip in communication with the cannula.
 7. The dispenser of claim 6 in which the dispensing tip is rounded.
 8. The dispenser of claim 6 in which the dispensing tip is spaced from the terminal edge of the rim.
 9. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the base, rim, spokes, hub, and cannula are integral and made of plastic.
 10. The dispenser of claim 1 in which there are three spaced spokes.
 11. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the cannula is tapered.
 12. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the cannula has a tapered channel therein.
 13. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the cannula has a sharpened distal end.
 14. Molded plastic, unitary dispenser comprising: a base including a stabilizing ring shaped rim; a ring shaped hub inside the rim and including a lower dispensing tip; spokes attached to the rim and extending inwardly to the hub; and a cannula supported by the hub.
 15. The dispenser of claim 14 in which the cannula has a lower plastic portion and an upper metal portion fit into the lower plastic portion.
 16. A dispenser comprising: a base including a stabilizing rim; a hub; means for supporting the hub with respect to the rim; and a cannula supported by the hub.
 17. The dispenser of claim 16 in which the means for supporting the hub include spokes attached to the rim and extending inwardly to the hub. 